Saints tight end Jimmy Graham took a big hit making a catch over the middle and left Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay with a right shoulder injury.
Graham was checked by trainers after the hit in the first quarter and returned to the game, making a 23-yard catch on his first play back — and absorbing another hit in the process.
About halfway through the second quarter Graham was approached by one of the team’s orthopedic surgeons as he sat on the bench. They spoke for several minutes before walking to the locker room.
The team has not provided specifics on the severity of the injury, making it unclear if next week’s bye will provide enough rest for Graham to return when the Saints meet Detroit in two weeks.
In addition to Graham, the Saints also lost centre Jonathan Goodwin (knee) and linebacker Ramon Humber (ankle) to injuries during the game.
Titans quarterback Jake Locker left Tennessee’s 29-28 loss to Cleveland with a thumb injury. Locker will have more tests Monday.
Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt also said veteran safety Bernard Pollard may have hurt his Achilles tendon.
Locker called his latest injury frustrating after leaving and watching the Titans blow their biggest lead in this franchise’s regular-season history. He watched the second half on the sideline wearing only a long-sleeved T-shirt with some white tape around his wrist.
Pollard hurt his right leg and was on crutches in the locker room after the game. He limped off the field after the Browns’ go-ahead touchdown with 1:09 left.
Titans tight end Craig Stevens hurt his thigh early and didn’t return. Titans cornerback Coty Sensabaugh started in place of Blidi Wreh-Wilson, who’s recovering from a concussion, and he hurt a knee ligament.
Also, Browns defensive end Phil Taylor hurt a knee in the first half and didn’t return.
The Cardinals lost another quarterback to injury after Drew Stanton was being evaluated for a concussion after being hit by Denver’s Von Miller in the third quarter. Stanton was letting go of a pass when the Broncos linebacker hit him in the chest area. Stanton sat on the bench before he was taken into the locker room.
Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson sprained his left ankle in the fourth quarter. Arizona defensive end Calais Campbell left the game with an injured medial collateral ligament in his right knee after Denver tight end Julius Thomas crashed low into Campbell and drew the wrath of Arizona coach Bruce Arians.
"I’ve been coaching for 37 years, it’s the dirtiest play I’ve seen," Arians fumed. "It was a flat chop block and put him out of the game. I know John Fox, great coach and great guy. Somebody has got to answer to that. A fine isn’t going to do it, when he’s going to miss three or four weeks, on a blatant chop block."
Denver running back Montee Ball suffered a groin injury in the third quarter.
Bills cornerback Ron Brooks was being held overnight in a Detroit hospital for evaluation for a neck injury sustained in a frightening collision during a punt return against the Lions. The team announced the decision without providing an update on Brooks’ status following a 17-14 win over the Lions.
Brooks waved his left hand after being placed on a spinal stabilization board and carted off the field midway through the first quarter. He was then transported to the hospital.
Brooks was hurt when colliding with Detroit’s Jerome Couplin. Couplin was attempting to block another Bills player and stumbled, hitting Brooks low. Brooks went flying into the air, spun upside down and landed directly on his head.
Lions receiver Calvin Johnson aggravated an ankle injury in the first minute of the third quarter, and running back Reggie Bush did not return after hurting his ankle early in the fourth quarter.
In other injury news:
–Steelers backup safety Shamarko Thomas (hamstring) left the game and did not return.
–The Jaguars lost running backs Toby Gerhart, Storm Johnson, and Jordan Todman to ankle injuries at different points in the game.
–Chargers running back Donald Brown was knocked out of San Diego’s 31-0 win with a concussion in the first half.
–Panthers cornerback Josh Norman left with a shoulder injury, while Bears safety Chris Conte left with a concussion at Carolina.
